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AUDIOMETRY
At the end of 1969 two audiometer/vision screener operators were on the staff
of the department.
Up to September, children had their hearing tested by audiometer three times in
their school lives; the first routine test before the age of seven; the next in the third year
in junior school, and finally in the second year in the senior school. As from September,
it was decided to give priority to routine testing the very young children to the
exclusion of those in the senior schools where experience had shown that virtually no
new case of defective hearing was discovered. In future, therefore, routine testing will
be carried out on children during their second term in school, and in their third year
in junior school. Special instances, for example, children with speech defects, and those
who are failing to make progress in school, will continue to be dealt with expeditiously.
Audiometers are kept in condition by regular calibration by the manufacturers.
Children who fail the audiometric test are referred for further investigation.
Forty six new cases were seen and 83 re-examinations were carried out in 1969, at
the Heston Hearing Clinic to which the majority of referrals are made.

* In Schools.